Firefighters tend to have their own version of an immunity challenge: Do the dishes in the firehouse when it's your turn and you won't get stuffed in a locker. With that kind of training, is it any wonder that Tom Westman, the lieutenant of Brooklyn's Ladder Company 108—and the runaway winner of Survivor: Palau—emerged as one of the show's strongest contestants ever? "I knew Tom was going to win," says runner-up Katie Gallagher. "No one could win against Tom. He's like Robo-Tom. He's not human." For sure, Westman—who relied on a blend of athleticism and decency—seems too good to be true. Born in Queens, he followed his father into the fire department and led his company during rescue efforts at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Married for 13 years to Bernadette, 37, a nurse, he signed up to battle for Survivor's $1 million prize so he could have enough to send their three children (Meghan, 9, Declan, 7, and Conor, 5) to college. "For a couple in our position, everything is about making it to the end of the month, so we're both enjoying the sense that 'Wow, things just got easier,'" says Westman, 41, who lives in Sayville, N.Y. "But I don't want this to be life-changing, I want it to be life-enhancing. I'm kind of happy with the life I have."

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COBY ARCHA & JANU TORNELL

Talk about a lasting alliance. The gay hairdresser from Texas and the wispy Vegas showgirl grew so close on Palau that when Archa adopted his cousin's baby girl—born April 27—he decided to name her Janu. "I always wanted a child, but society looks down on a gay single male [adopting]," says Archa, 32, who surprised Tornell with the news on the live Survivor finale. Tornell, 40, says of Archa, "I came out of Survivor with someone who will be dear to me forever."

STEPHENIE LAGROSSA The sales rep from New Jersey became one of the most popular players ever by hanging on as her tribe dwindled down to a single member: her (a Survivor first). Since then, LaGrossa, 25, has turned down an offer from Playboy: "I've become an inspiration to so many young girls," she says, "I just can't go and get naked."

IAN ROSENBERGER

When the 6'8" dolphin trainer, 23, tanked the last immunity challenge to ensure that his pal Katie Gallagher—and not he—made it to the final two with Tom Westman, "that wasn't contrived," says Gallagher. "He's my friend for life." Now house-hunting in L.A., Rosen-berger says, "I want to get into production, and maybe work in front of the camera."